My wife drives a 2011 Outback with a 6 speed manual......but I don't think she'd go for the lift and oversized wheel/tire combo

Well, technically you don't have to lift it. Mine isn't lifted. The main reason why I passed on the lift (besides the fact that it's a bit ridiculous to lift a Subaru Outback) is because you don't really gain overall ground clearance. You do in the front, but the rear suspension arm has to stay the same or it'll mess up the rear castor, so instead you add a spacer between it and the frame of the car. The result is that the ground clearance in the rear remains the same.

I guess the best thread to ask.Tell me what's better and why Rancho or Bilstein shocks/struts. If you had experience with both, even better.It appears that it is time to replace the shocks/struts in my 2008 4Runner and I was debating between the two. I am going to be pulling the XREAS out and might give it a modest lift (nothing fancy, just spacers), probably leaving the stock springs in, if I can; yet I might just leave it at stock height.

bubbie wrote:I guess the best thread to ask.Tell me what's better and why Rancho or Bilstein shocks/struts. If you had experience with both, even better.It appears that it is time to replace the shocks/struts in my 2008 4Runner and I was debating between the two. I am going to be pulling the XREAS out and might give it a modest lift (nothing fancy, just spacers), probably leaving the stock springs in, if I can; yet I might just leave it at stock height.

My 2005 V8.Ive had Bilstein f/r with OME/Toytec springs for a couple years now....about 50k miles.With my setup, I gained maybe 2.5-3".Depending on how worn your stock shocks are, I believe it'll be about stock height with factory springs.They've been perfect for my needs.

Thanks. Nice looking vehicle.Yes, I am thinking Bilstein. I will have to look into springs though. I was sure there would be some lift even with the original springs. I am not really looking for more than a couple of inches.Any thoughts on the bushings: rubber vs. polyurethane? I need the stabilizer bushings, maybe some others as well once I get inside and see.

bubbie wrote:I guess the best thread to ask.Tell me what's better and why Rancho or Bilstein shocks/struts. If you had experience with both, even better.It appears that it is time to replace the shocks/struts in my 2008 4Runner and I was debating between the two. I am going to be pulling the XREAS out and might give it a modest lift (nothing fancy, just spacers), probably leaving the stock springs in, if I can; yet I might just leave it at stock height.

I went with Bilstein 5100’s and HD Springs on my Nissan Titan. With the adjustable Bilstein’s I was able to get about a 2” gain without spacers. I did the tie rod, sway bar end links, ball joints, camber bolts and full front brake job at the same time. Made a huge difference on my 2006 Titan

bubbie wrote:I guess the best thread to ask.Tell me what's better and why Rancho or Bilstein shocks/struts. If you had experience with both, even better.It appears that it is time to replace the shocks/struts in my 2008 4Runner and I was debating between the two. I am going to be pulling the XREAS out and might give it a modest lift (nothing fancy, just spacers), probably leaving the stock springs in, if I can; yet I might just leave it at stock height.

I went with Bilstein 5100’s and HD Springs on my Nissan Titan. With the adjustable Bilstein’s I was able to get about a 2” gain without spacers. I did the tie rod, sway bar end links, ball joints, camber bolts and full front brake job at the same time. Made a huge difference on my 2006 Titan

Thanks, man. I think I am going to settle on Bilstein 4600 and no lift. I don't think I am going to replace anything else but some bushings since everything else seems fine.